User equipment local barometric calibration

ABSTRACT

A system for providing local barometric calibration for user equipment is disclosed. In particular, the system may utilize an over-the-air signal to feed local barometric pressure measurements to the user equipment so as to auto-calibrate the barometric sensor of the user equipment to the local barometric pressure. The local barometric pressure may be collated to the serving cell site identifier or wireless access point to which the user equipment is connected. The local barometric pressure measurements may be obtained by the optimal resource available in the area associated with the user equipment. For example, the local barometric pressure measurements may be obtained from the Internet, a local weather service, a local serving beacon, or other source. The barometric sensor may be calibrated at desired intervals, when certain conditions are satisfied, or any combination thereof.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present application relates to technologies for barometriccalibration, barometric sensors, and more particularly, to a system andmethod for providing local barometric calibration for user equipment.

BACKGROUND

In today's society, users and organizations are increasingly utilizingsmartphones and other user equipment to gain access to the Internet,request and access various types of content, access softwareapplications, access software services, access large volumes of data,and perform a variety of other tasks and functions. Currently, certainsmartphones and user equipment include barometric pressure sensors thatare attached to or embedded within the smartphones and user equipment.Such barometric pressure sensors are typically calibrated by themanufacturers of the barometric pressure sensors at sea level and thensent to the market for sale. As the number of smartphones and userequipment containing barometric pressure sensors has increased, usersand organizations have started to use such barometric pressure sensorsin conjunction with various types of software applications, such as, butnot limited to mapping applications and tracking applications.

Nevertheless, testing has shown that barometric pressure sensors areoften not calibrated to the proper local barometric pressure, and areoften not calibrated or tested by each manufacturer in the same manner.Since such barometric pressure sensors are often not calibrated to theproper local barometric pressure, the barometric pressure sensors oftenreport barometric pressure measurements that have errors of fifty feetor greater. In some cases, the barometric pressure sensors may reportbarometric pressure measurements including errors as high as severalhundred feet or greater. While enabling a user to manually set thebarometric pressure sensors to the local barometric pressure readingsmay be feasible, the local barometric pressure may change dramaticallyas local weather conditions change.

SUMMARY

A system and accompanying methods for providing local barometriccalibration for user equipment, such as a communication device, aredisclosed. In particular, the system and methods may involve utilizingan over-the-air signal to feed local barometric pressure measurements tothe user equipment so as to auto-calibrate a barometric sensor of theuser equipment to the local barometric pressure. In order to accomplishthe foregoing, the system and methods may involve identifying a cellsite identifier associated with a cell site connected to thecommunication device and/or identifying a wireless access pointconnected to the communication device. Based on the identification ofthe cell site identifier, the cell site, the wireless access point, orany combination thereof, the system and methods may include determininga source for providing a barometric pressure measurement correspondingto the current location of the communication device. For example, thesource for providing the barometric pressure measurement may include,but is not limited to, a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA) transmitter, a local weather transmitter, a barometric pressurebeacon, the internet, any source of barometric pressure measurements, orany combination thereof.

After determining the source for providing the barometric pressuremeasurement corresponding to the current location of the communicationdevice, the system and methods may include receiving, via anover-the-air signal provided by the source, the barometric pressuremeasurement corresponding to the location of the communication device.Once the barometric pressure measurement is received, the system andmethods may include transmitting the barometric pressure measurement tothe barometric sensor of the communication device. The barometric sensorof the communication device may then be calibrated based on thebarometric pressure measurement corresponding to the current location ofthe communication device. In certain embodiments, the barometric sensormay be calibrated at desired intervals, when certain conditions aresatisfied, or any combination thereof. Additionally, the system andmethods are not limited to calibrating barometric sensors or toobtaining barometric pressure measurements. Notably, the system andmethods may be utilized to calibrate any type of sensor, component,program, or any combination thereof, that is associated with acommunication device. For example, the system and methods may beutilized to calibrate temperature sensors, proximity sensors, motionsensors, accelerometers, light sensors, gyroscopes, compasses, or anycombination thereof.

In one embodiment, a system for providing local barometric calibrationfor user equipment is disclosed. The system may include a memory thatstores instructions and a processor that executes the instructions toperform various operations of the system. The system may perform anoperation that includes identifying a cell site identifier associatedwith a cell site connected to user equipment, such as a communicationdevice. The system may then perform an operation that includesdetermining, based on the cell site identifier and the cell site, asource for providing a barometric pressure measurement corresponding toa location of the communication device. Additionally, the system mayperform an operation that includes receiving, via an over-the-air signalprovided by the source, the barometric pressure measurementcorresponding to the location of the communication device. Furthermore,the system may perform an operation that includes transmitting, to abarometric sensor of the communication device, the barometric pressuremeasurement corresponding to the location of the communication device.Moreover, the system may perform an operation that includes calibratingthe barometric sensor based on the barometric pressure measurementcorresponding to the location of the communication device.

In another embodiment, a method for providing local barometriccalibration for user equipment is disclosed. The method may includeutilizing a memory that stores instructions, and a processor thatexecutes the instructions to perform the various functions of themethod. The method may include identifying a cell site identifierassociated with a cell site connected to a communication device.Additionally, the method may include determining, based on the cell siteidentifier and the cell site, a source for providing a barometricpressure measurement corresponding to a location of the communicationdevice. The method may also include receiving, via an over-the-airsignal provided by the source, the barometric pressure measurementcorresponding to the location of the communication device. Furthermore,the method may include transmitting, to a barometric sensor of thecommunication device, the barometric pressure measurement correspondingto the location of the communication device. Moreover, the method mayinclude calibrating the barometric sensor based on the barometricpressure measurement corresponding to the location of the communicationdevice.

According to yet another embodiment, a computer-readable device havinginstructions for providing local barometric calibration for userequipment is provided. The computer instructions, which when loaded andexecuted by a processor, may cause the processor to perform operationsincluding: identifying a cell site identifier associated with a cellsite connected to a communication device; determining, based on the cellsite identifier and the cell site, a source for providing a barometricpressure measurement corresponding to a location of the communicationdevice; receiving, via an over-the-air signal provided by the source,the barometric pressure measurement corresponding to the location of thecommunication device; transmitting, to a barometric sensor of thecommunication device, the barometric pressure measurement correspondingto the location of the communication device; and calibrating thebarometric sensor based on the barometric pressure measurementcorresponding to the location of the communication device.

These and other features of the systems and methods for providing localbarometric calibration for user equipment are described in the followingdetailed description, drawings, and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system for providing local barometriccalibration for user equipment according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating a sample method for providinglocal barometric calibration for user equipment according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a machine in the form of a computersystem within which a set of instructions, when executed, may cause themachine to perform any one or more of the methodologies or operations ofthe systems and methods for providing local barometric calibration foruser equipment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A system 100 and accompanying methods for providing local barometriccalibration for user equipment, such as a communication device, aredisclosed. In particular, the system 100 and methods may involveutilizing an over-the-air signal to feed local barometric pressuremeasurements to the user equipment so as to auto-calibrate a barometricsensor of the user equipment to the local barometric pressure. In orderto accomplish the foregoing, the system 100 and methods may involveidentifying a cell site identifier associated with a cell site 117connected to the communication device and/or identifying a wirelessaccess point 118 connected to the communication device. Based on theidentification of the cell site identifier, the cell site 117, thewireless access point 118, or any combination thereof, the system 100and methods may include determining a source for providing a barometricpressure measurement corresponding to the current location of thecommunication device. For example, the source for providing thebarometric pressure measurement may include, but is not limited to, aNOAA transmitter 120, a local weather transmitter 125, a barometricpressure beacon 122, a communications network 130, any source ofbarometric pressure measurements, or any combination thereof.

After determining the source for providing the barometric pressuremeasurement corresponding to the current location of the communicationdevice, the system 100 and methods may include receiving, via anover-the-air signal provided by the source, the barometric pressuremeasurement corresponding to the location of the communication device.Once the barometric pressure measurement is received, the system 100 andmethods may include transmitting the barometric pressure measurement tothe barometric sensor (e.g. barometric sensors 105, 114) of thecommunication device. The barometric sensor of the communication devicemay then be calibrated based on the barometric pressure measurementcorresponding to the current location of the communication device. Incertain embodiments, the barometric sensor may be calibrated at desiredintervals, when certain conditions are satisfied, or any combinationthereof. Additionally, the system 100 and methods are not limited tocalibrating barometric sensors or to obtaining barometric pressuremeasurements. Notably, the system 100 and methods may be utilized tocalibrate any type of sensor, component, program, or any combinationthereof, that is associated with a communication device. For example,the system 100 and methods may be utilized to calibrate temperaturesensors, proximity sensors, motion sensors, accelerometers, lightsensors, gyroscopes, compasses, or any combination thereof.

As shown in FIG. 1, a system 100 for providing local barometriccalibration for user equipment is disclosed. The system 100 may beconfigured to support, but is not limited to supporting, cloud computingservices, content delivery services, satellite services, telephoneservices, voice-over-internet protocol services (VoIP), software as aservice (SaaS) applications, gaming applications and services,productivity applications and services, mobile applications andservices, and any other computing applications and services. The systemmay include a first user 101 that may utilize a first user device 102 toaccess data, content, and services, or to perform a variety of othertasks and functions. As an example, the first user 101 may utilize firstuser device 102 to transmit signals to access various online services,such as those provided by a content provider or service providerassociated with communications network 135. The first user device 102may include a memory 103 that includes instructions, and a processor 104that executes the instructions from the memory 103 to perform thevarious operations that are performed by the first user device 102. Theprocessor 104 may be hardware, software, or a combination thereof.

The first user device 102 may also include a barometric sensor 105. Thebarometric sensor 105 may be a pressure sensor that may be configured tomeasure fluctuations in the pressure exerted by the atmosphere, and maybe utilized by one or more components and/or applications of the firstuser device 102. In certain embodiments, the barometric sensor 105 maybe embedded within a chipset of the first user device 102, however, inother embodiments, the barometric sensor 105 may be located anywherewithin or in proximity to the first user device 102. Furthermore, thefirst user device 102 may include a component 106, which may be any typeof sensor, component, program, or any combination thereof, associatedwith a communication device. In certain embodiments, the component 106may be a temperature sensor, proximity sensor, motion sensor,accelerometer, light sensor, gyroscope, compass, any type of component,or any combination thereof. In certain embodiments, the first userdevice 102 may be a computer, a laptop, a tablet device, a phablet, aserver, a mobile device, a smartphone, a smart watch, or any other typeof computing device. Illustratively, the first user device 102 is shownas a smartphone device in FIG. 1.

In addition to the first user 101, the system 100 may also include asecond user 110 that may utilize a second user device 111 to also accessdata, content, and services, and to perform a variety of otherfunctions. For example, the second user device 111 may be utilized bythe second user 110 to transmit signals to request various types ofcontent, services, and data provided by providers associated withcommunications network 135 or communications network 130. The seconduser device 111 may include a memory 112 that includes instructions, anda processor 113 that executes the instructions from the memory 112 toperform the various operations that are performed by the second userdevice 111. The processor 113 may be hardware, software, or acombination thereof.

Similar to the first user device 102, the second user device 111 mayalso include a barometric sensor 114. The barometric sensor 114 maysimilarly be a pressure sensor that may be configured to measurefluctuations in the pressure exerted by the atmosphere, and may beutilized by one or more components and/or applications of the seconduser device 102 for various purposes. In certain embodiments, thebarometric sensor 114 may be embedded within a chipset of the seconduser device 111, however, in other embodiments, the barometric sensor114 may be located anywhere within or in proximity to the second userdevice 111. Furthermore, the second user device 111 may include acomponent 115, which may be any type of sensor, component, program, orany combination thereof, associated with a communication device. Incertain embodiments, the component 115 be a temperature sensor,proximity sensor, motion sensor, accelerometer, light sensor, gyroscope,compass, any type of component, or any combination thereof. In certainembodiments, the second user device 111 may be a computer, a laptop, atablet device, a phablet, a server, a mobile device, a smartphone, asmart watch, or any other type of computing device. Illustratively, thesecond user device 111 is shown as a smartphone device in FIG. 1.

In certain embodiments, first user device 102 and the second user device111 may have any number of software applications stored and/oraccessible thereon. For example, the first and second user devices 102,111 may include cloud-based applications, mapping applications, locationtracking applications, applications that gather crowdsourcinginformation, database applications, gaming applications, internet-basedapplications, browser applications, mobile applications, service-basedapplications, productivity applications, video applications, musicapplications, streaming media applications, social media applications,any other type of applications, or a combination thereof. In certainembodiments, the software applications may include one or more graphicaluser interfaces so as to enable the first and second users 101, 110 toreadily interact with the software applications. The softwareapplications may also be utilized by the first and second users 101, 110to interact with the any device in the system 100, any network in thesystem 100, or any combination thereof.

The system 100 may also include a transmitter 120, which may be a NOAAtransmitter or any other type of transmitter that may serve as a sourceof information, such as, but not limited to, weather-relatedinformation. In certain embodiments, the transmitter 120 may be a radiostation, a computing device, any type of transmitter, or any combinationthereof, and may be configured to communicate with any of the devices inthe system 100. The transmitter 120 may be configured to acquire andtransmit any type of information including, but not limited to, currentsky conditions, temperature measurements, dew points, humidity readings,wind speed measurements, wind directions, barometric pressuremeasurements, rain conditions, any precipitation conditions, any type ofweather conditions, any type of air conditions, any type of ocean orwater conditions, any type of land conditions, or any combinationthereof. In certain embodiments, the transmitter 120 may transmitsignals, such as, but not limited to, over-the-air signals to the firstand second user devices 102, 111, to any other device in the system 100,any of the communication networks 130, 135, or any combination thereof.Additionally, the signals may be sent or received at any selectedfrequency and at any desired rate.

The system 100 may additionally include a barometric pressure beacon122, which may communicate with any of the devices in the system 100.The barometric pressure beacon 122 may be a beacon that is configured toobtain and transmit barometric pressure information, temperaturemeasurements, weather condition information, wind speed and directionmeasurements, or any combination thereof. In certain embodiments, thebarometric pressure beacon 122 may be configured to transmit signals,such as, but not limited to, over-the-air signals, to the first andsecond user devices 102, 111, to any other device in the system 100, anyof the communication networks 130, 135, or any combination thereof.Additionally, the barometric pressure beacon 122 may be configured toreceive signals from any of the devices in the system 100, any of thecommunication networks 130, 135, or any combination thereof. In certainembodiments, the signals may be sent or received at any selectedfrequency and at any desired rate.

In addition to including the transmitter 120 and the barometric pressurebeacon 122, the system 100 may also include a local weather transmitter125. The local weather transmitter 125 may be local to the first andsecond users 101, 110, any of the devices in the system 100, any of thecommunication networks 130, 135, or any combination thereof.Additionally, the local weather transmitter 125 may be configured toobtain and transmit barometric pressure measurements, temperaturemeasurements, weather condition information, humidity readings, windspeed measurements, wind direction information, precipitationinformation, or any combination thereof. In certain embodiments, thelocal weather transmitter 125 may be configured to transmit signals,such as, but not limited to, over-the-air signals, to the first andsecond user devices 102, 111, to any other device in the system 100, toany of the communication networks 130, 135, or any combination thereof.Additionally, the barometric pressure beacon 122 may be configured toreceive signals from any of the devices in the system 100, any of thecommunication networks 130, 135, or any combination thereof. In certainembodiments, the signals may be sent or received at any selectedfrequency and at any desired rate.

The communications network 130 of the system 100 may be configured tolink with each of the devices in the system 100 to one another, and beconfigured to transmit, generate, and receive any information and datatraversing the system 100. In one embodiment, the communications network130 may include any number of servers, databases, or other componentry.In certain embodiments, the communications network 130 may be configuredto communicatively link with the first user device 102, the second userdevice 111, the cell site 117, the wireless access point 118, thetransmitter 120, the barometric pressure beacon 122, the local weathertransmitter 125, the communications network 135, the server 140, theserver 145, the database 155, the server 160, or any combinationthereof. The communications network 130 may also include and beconnected to a cloud-computing network, a wireless network, an Ethernetnetwork, a satellite network, a broadband network, a cellular network, aprivate network, a cable network, the Internet, an internet protocolnetwork, a multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) network, a contentdistribution network, any network, or any combination thereof.Illustratively, the communications network 130 is shown as including theInternet. In certain embodiments, the communications network 130 may bepart of a single autonomous system that is located in a particulargeographic region, or be part of multiple autonomous systems that spanseveral geographic regions.

In addition to communications network 130, the system 100 may alsoinclude a communications network 135. The communications network 135 ofthe system 100 may be configured to link each of the devices in thesystem 100 to one another, and be configured to transmit, generate, andreceive any information and data traversing the system 100. In oneembodiment, the communications network 135 may include any number ofservers, databases, or other componentry. The communications network 135may be configured to communicatively link with the first user device102, the second user device 111, the cell site 117, the wireless accesspoint 118, the transmitter 120, the barometric pressure beacon 122, thelocal weather transmitter 125, the communications network 130, theserver 140, the server 145, the database 155, the server 160, or anycombination thereof. The communications network 135 may also include andbe connected to a cloud-computing network, a wireless network, anEthernet network, a satellite network, a broadband network, a cellularnetwork, a private network, a cable network, the Internet, an internetprotocol network, a multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) network, acontent distribution network, any network or any combination thereof.Illustratively, servers 140 and 145 are shown as being included withincommunications network 135, and the communications network 135 is shownas a mobile wireless network.

In certain embodiments, the communications network 135 may communicatewith the first and second user devices 102, 111 via the cell site 117,the wireless access point 118, or any combination thereof. The cell site117 may be a cellular tower that includes antennae and electronicscommunications equipment that may be utilized to create a cell for thecommunications network 135. Each cell site 117 may include an identifierthat is utilized to identify the cell site to any of the networks,devices, and programs in the system 100. The identifier may be asequence of numbers, characters, or any combination thereof thatuniquely identify the cell site 117. In certain embodiments, the cellsite 117 may be a base station or other similar station, and may beconfigured to connect with the first and second user devices 102, 111.In certain embodiments, the cell site 117 may include any of thefunctionality and features of any type of cell site or tower. In certainembodiments, the first and second user devices 102, 111 may connect withthe communications network 135 via the wireless access point 118, whichmay be a device that enables the first and second user devices 102, 111to connect to the communications network 135 using Wi-Fi or othercommunication standards. In certain embodiments, the wireless accesspoint 118 may serve as a transmitter and receiver of wireless radiosignals occurring between the first and second user devices 102, 111 andthe communications network 135. In certain embodiments, the wirelessaccess point 118 may include any of the functionality of any type ofwireless access point. In certain embodiments, the communicationsnetwork 135 may be part of a single autonomous system that is located ina particular geographic region, or be part of multiple autonomoussystems that span several geographic regions.

Notably, the functionality of the system 100 may be supported andexecuted by using any combination of the servers 140, 145, and 160. Incertain embodiments, the server 140 may include a memory 141 thatincludes instructions, and a processor 142 that executes theinstructions from the memory 141 to perform various operations that areperformed by the server 140. The processor 142 may be hardware,software, or a combination thereof. Similarly, the server 145 mayinclude a memory 146 that includes instructions, and a processor 147that executes the instructions from the memory 146 to perform thevarious operations that are performed by the server 145. In certainembodiments, the servers 140, 145, and 160 may be network servers,routers, gateways, computers, mobile devices or any other suitablecomputing device. In certain embodiments, the servers 140, 145 may becommunicatively linked to the communications network 130, thecommunications network 135, any network, any device in the system 100,or any combination thereof.

The database 155 of the system 100 may be utilized to store and relayinformation that traverses the system 100, cache content that traversesthe system 100, store data about each of the devices in the system 100and perform any other typical functions of a database. In certainembodiments, the database 155 may be connected to or reside within thecommunications network 135, any other network, or a combination thereof.In certain embodiments, the database 155 may serve as a centralrepository for any information associated with any of the devices andinformation associated with the system 100. Furthermore, the database155 may include a processor and memory or be connected to a processorand memory to perform the various operation associated with the database155. In certain embodiments, the database 155 may be connected toservers 140, 145, 160, the first user device 102, the second user device111, the transmitter 120, the barometric pressure beacon 122, the localweather transmitter 125, the communications network 130, or anycombination thereof.

The database 155 may also store information and metadata obtained fromthe system 100, store metadata and other information associated with thefirst and second users 101, 110, store user profiles associated with thefirst and second users 101, 110, store device profiles associated withany device in the system 100, store communications traversing the system100, store user preferences, store information associated with anydevice or signal in the system 100, store information relating topatterns of usage relating to the first and second user devices 102,111, store any information obtained from the transmitter 120, thebarometric pressure beacon 122, the local weather transmitter 125, orany combination thereof, store barometric pressure information, storeweather condition information, store conditions for calibrating thebarometric sensors 105, 114 and the components 106, 115, store anyinformation traversing the system 100, or any combination thereof.Furthermore, the database 155 may be configured to process queries sentto it by any device in the system 100.

Operatively, the system 100 may provide for local barometric calibrationfor user equipment in the following exemplary manner. In a samplescenario, the first user 101 may be utilizing first user device 102,which may be a smartphone or other similar device. The first user 101may be located on floor 55 of a high-rise building with many floors, andmay be utilizing a mapping application executing on the first userdevice 102. When the first user 101 opens the mapping application or atany other desired time, the system 100 may be configured to identify acell site identifier associated with the cell site 117 that the firstuser device 102 is connected to and/or identify a wireless access point118 that the first user device 102 is connected to. Based on the cellsite identifier and/or the identification of the wireless access point118, the system 100 may determine a source for providing a barometricpressure measurement corresponding to the current location of the firstuser device 102. The source, for example, may be a transmitter 120, abarometric pressure beacon 122, the local weather transmitter 125, thecommunications networks 130, 135, or any combination thereof.

Once the source is determined, the first user device 102 may receive,such as via an over-the-air signal provided by the determined source,the barometric pressure measurement corresponding to the currentlocation of the first user device 102. The first user device 102 maythen transmit the barometric pressure measurement to the barometricsensor 105 of the first user device 102 and calibrate the barometricsensor 105 based on the barometric pressure measurement. Oncecalibrated, the barometric sensor 105 may provide accurate barometricpressure readings that actually correspond to the actual location of thefirst user device 102. The barometric pressure readings may be providedto the mapping application, which may map altitude information obtainedfrom the barometric pressure readings to the building floor layout ofthe building that the first user 101 is located in to determine that thefirst user 101 and first user device 102 are located on floor 55. Themapping application and the first user device 102 may then have accuratelocation and altitude information for the first user 101 and the firstuser device 102.

The location information may then be provided to another application,another individual, another device, or any combination thereof. Forexample, the location information may be provided to second user device111, who may be using a similar mapping application. The second user 110may access the mapping application and receive the location informationthat identifies the location of the first user device 102. The seconduser device 111 may then display the accurate location of the first user101 and the first user device 102 in the building on the mappingapplication of the second user 110. For example, a graphical userinterface of the mapping application may be displayed on the second userdevice 111, which shows the specific floor and room that the first user101 and the first user device 102 are located on. As the first user 101and the first user device 102 move to a new location and/or localweather conditions change, new barometric pressure measurementscorresponding to the new locations and/or local weather conditions maybe received from the appropriate sources. The new barometric pressuremeasurements may then be utilized to recalibrate the barometric sensor105 of the first user device 102. The recalibrated barometric sensor 105may then share the updated information with any device, program, orindividual.

Notably, as shown in FIG. 1, the system 100 may perform any of theoperative functions disclosed herein by utilizing the processingcapabilities of server 160, the storage capacity of the database 155, orany other component of the system 100 to perform the operative functionsdisclosed herein. The server 160 may include one or more processors 162that may be configured to process any of the various functions of thesystem 100. The processors 162 may be software, hardware, or acombination of hardware and software. Additionally, the server 160 mayalso include a memory 161, which stores instructions that the processors162 may execute to perform various operations of the system 100. Forexample, the server 160 may assist in processing loads handled by thevarious devices in the system 100, such as, but not limited to,identifying cell site identifiers and/or wireless access points 118,determining a source for providing barometric pressure measurements orother information, receiving signals including barometric pressuremeasurements or other information, transmitting the barometric pressuremeasurements or other information, determining if a location of acommunication device has changed, determining if conditions local to thecommunication device have changed, calibrating barometric sensors 105,114, calibrating components 106, 115, recalibrating barometric sensors105, 114 and components 106, 115, and performing any other suitableoperations conducted in the system 100 or otherwise. In one embodiment,multiple servers 160 may be utilized to process the functions of thesystem 100. The server 160 and other devices in the system 100, mayutilize the database 155 for storing data about the devices in thesystem 100 or any other information that is associated with the system100. In one embodiment, multiple databases 155 may be utilized to storedata in the system 100.

Although FIG. 1 illustrates a specific example configuration of thevarious components of the system 100, the system 100 may include anyconfiguration of the components, which may include using a greater orlesser number of the components. For example, the system 100 isillustratively shown as including a first user device 102, a second userdevice 111, a cell site 117, a wireless access point 118, a transmitter120, a barometric pressure beacon 122, a local weather transmitter 125,a communications network 130, a communications network 135, a server140, a server 145, a server 160, and a database 155. However, the system100 may include multiple first user devices 102, multiple second userdevices 111, multiple cell sites 117, multiple wireless access points118, multiple transmitters 120, multiple barometric pressure beacons122, multiple local weather transmitters 125, multiple communicationnetworks 130, multiple communications networks 135, multiple servers140, multiple servers 145, multiple servers 160, multiple databases 155,or any number of any of the other components in the system 100.Furthermore, in certain embodiments, substantial portions of thefunctionality and operations of the system 100 may be performed by othernetworks and systems that may be connected to system 100.

As shown in FIG. 2, an exemplary method 200 for providing localbarometric calibration for user equipment is schematically illustrated,and may include, at step 202, identifying a wireless access point 118and/or a cell site identifier associated with a cell site 117 connectedto a communication device, such as first user device 102 or second userdevice 111. In certain embodiments, the identifying may be performed byutilizing the first user device 102, the second user device 111, thecell site 117, the wireless access point 118, the server 140, the server145, the server 160, any combination thereof, or by utilizing any otherappropriate program, system, or device. At step 204, the method 200 mayinclude determining, based on the cell site identifier, the cell site117, the wireless access point 118, or any combination thereof, a sourcefor providing a barometric pressure measurement corresponding to alocation of the communication device. In certain embodiments, thedetermining may be performed by utilizing the cell site 117, thewireless access point 118, the server 140, the server 145, the server160, any combination thereof, or by utilizing any other appropriateprogram, system, or device.

Once the source is determined, the method 200 may include, at step 206,receiving, such as via an over-the-air signal provided by the source,the barometric pressure measurement corresponding to the location of thecommunication device. In certain embodiments, the receiving may beperformed by utilizing the first user device 102, the second user device111, the cell site 117, the wireless access point 118, the server 140,the server 145, the server 160, any combination thereof, or by utilizingany other appropriate program, system, or device. At step 208, themethod 200 may include transmitting, such as to a barometric sensor 105,114 of the communication device, the barometric pressure measurementcorresponding to the location of the communication device. In certainembodiments, the transmitting may be performed by utilizing the firstuser device 102, the second user device 111, any of the componentry ofthe first and second user devices 102, 111, the cell site 117, thewireless access point 118, the server 140, the server 145, the server160, any combination thereof, or by utilizing any other appropriateprogram, system, or device.

At step 210, the method 200 may include calibrating the barometricsensor 105, 114 of the communication device based on the barometricpressure measurement corresponding to the location of the communicationdevice. In certain embodiments, the calibrating may be performed byutilizing the first user device 102, the second user device 111, thebarometric sensors 105, 114, or by utilizing any other appropriateprogram, system, or device. At step 212, the method 200 may includedetermining if the communication device has moved to a new locationand/or if the local conditions (e.g. weather conditions, atmosphericconditions) have changed. If the local conditions have not changed andthe communication device has not moved to a new location, the method 200may include, at step 214, maintaining the current calibration for thebarometric sensor 105, 114 of the communication device. In certainembodiments, the maintaining may be performed by utilizing the firstuser device 102, the second user device 111, the barometric sensors 105,114, or by utilizing any other appropriate program, system, or device.If, however, the communication device has moved, the local conditionshave changed, or both, the method 200 may include, at step 216,recalibrating the barometric sensor 105, 114 based on barometricpressure measurements that correspond to the new location and/or the newlocal conditions. In certain embodiments, the recalibrating may beperformed by utilizing the first user device 102, the second user device111, the barometric sensors 105, 114, or by utilizing any otherappropriate program, system, or device. Notably, the method 200 mayincorporate any of the features and functionality described for thesystem 100 or as otherwise described herein.

Notably, the systems and methods disclosed herein may include additionalfunctionality and features. For example, the system 100 and methods maybe configured to enable the first user device 102 and the second userdevice 111 obtain the correct barometric pressure measurements or othermeasurements from the appropriate source. For example, the system 100may determine the optimal source for providing the measurements based ona particular source's proximity to the first and second user devices102, 111, based on how recently the measurements have been obtained by aparticular source, based on the storage capacity of a particular source,based on the processing power of a particular source, based on thesignal strength of a particular source, based on whether the source istransmitting information to other communication devices, based on theload of a particular source, based on a particular source's connectionwith the communication networks 130, 135, based on any combinationthereof, or based on any other types of factors.

Additionally, the systems and methods may include enabling thebarometric pressure measurements utilized by the barometric sensors 104,115 to be utilized by any type of software application, device, or anycombination thereof. For example, the barometric pressure measurementsmay be utilized by an application of the first user device 102 todetermine critical altitude location information for the first userdevice 102 and the first user 101. The altitude information may bemapped to a building floor layout of a building that the first user 101is located in. Once the altitude information is mapped to the buildingfloor layout, the information may be utilized, for example, to providelife-saving location data to first responders that have been made awareof an emergency associated with the first user 101. The first respondersmay be able to determine which floor in the building the first user 101is located on based on the information provided by the calibratedbarometric sensor 104. As a result, the systems and methods may beuseful in facilitating various types of emergency services, such as butnot limited to, public safety E911 and determining the identity andlocation of an E911 caller.

Furthermore, the systems and methods may include allow for the trackingof objects, such as, but not limited to, packages, personal possessions,pets, or any combination thereof. As an example, a commercial deliverycompany may be able to track the specific location of a package within abuilding, such as by floor, by utilizing the barometric pressuremeasurements, weather condition measurements, and any othermeasurements. The package may be tracked by having a barometric sensor104, 115 on the package itself, by being in proximity to a deviceincluding the barometric sensor 104, 115 (e.g. first user device 102),or by including componentry that is capable of receiving barometricpressure information, weather condition information, or any combinationthereof. Also, the systems and methods may be utilized in conjunctionwith home automation applications and devices, particularly in thecontext of multi-floor buildings, large buildings, or a combinationthereof. For example, the systems and methods may be utilized with smartlights, motion sensors, smart locks, smart sound systems, geo-fencingapplications, crowdsourcing applications, smart appliances, smartthermostats, or any combination thereof. In an exemplary scenario, ifthe first user device 102 is detected as being located within a certainrange of the first user's home, the system 100 may automatically turn onthe smart lights, activate the thermostat, turn off/on a speaker,lock/unlock the front door, or perform any other operations associatedwith home automation devices.

In certain embodiments, the systems and methods may include allowing thebarometric sensors 105, 114 and the components 106, 115 to be calibratedand updated on a periodic interval, in real-time, at a selected timeinterval, on the fly, or at any other desired rate. The time intervalmay be adjustable. In certain embodiments, the calibrations may beperformed when the first and second users' 101, 110 initiate aparticular application, terminate a particular application, utilize avoice command, utilize certain detectable gestures, input certainnumeric or other codes, or any combination thereof. In certainembodiments, the calibrations and/or recalibrations may be performedupon the satisfaction of any desired condition. In certain embodiments,the barometric information, weather information, or any otherinformation disclosed herein or otherwise, may be downloaded to thefirst and second user devices 102, 111 by way of a push or by way of adirect request from the first and second user devices 102, 111. Incertain embodiments, if the first and second user devices 102, 111 aredirectly requesting the information, the requests may be sent via thesignaling utilized for wireless access to the communication networks130, 135. In certain embodiments, the barometric sensors 105, 114, andthe components 106, 115 may be calibrated manually by the first andsecond users 101, 110 at a periodic time interval or any other desiredtime interval.

Notably, the system and methods are not limited to calibratingbarometric sensors or to obtaining barometric pressure measurements.Notably, the systems and methods may be utilized to calibrate any typeof sensor, component, program, or any combination thereof, associatedwith a communication device. For example, the system and methods may beutilized to calibrate components 106, 115, which may be temperaturesensors, proximity sensors, motion sensors, accelerometers, lightsensors, gyroscopes, compasses, any type of sensor, or any combinationthereof.

Referring now also to FIG. 3, at least a portion of the methodologiesand techniques described with respect to the exemplary embodiments ofthe system 100 can incorporate a machine, such as, but not limited to,computer system 300, or other computing device within which a set ofinstructions, when executed, may cause the machine to perform any one ormore of the methodologies or functions discussed above. The machine maybe configured to facilitate various operations conducted by the system100. For example, the machine may be configured to, but is not limitedto, assist the system 100 by providing processing power to assist withprocessing loads experienced in the system 100, by providing storagecapacity for storing instructions or data traversing the system 100, orby assisting with any other operations conducted by or within the system100.

In some embodiments, the machine may operate as a standalone device. Insome embodiments, the machine may be connected (e.g., usingcommunications network 130, communications network 135, another network,or a combination thereof) to and assist with operations performed byother machines and systems, such as, but not limited to, the first userdevice 102, the second user device 111, the cell site 117, the wirelessaccess point 118, the transmitter 120, the barometric pressure beacon122, the local weather transmitter 125, the server 140, the server 145,the database 155, the server 160, or any combination thereof. Themachine may be connected with any component in the system 100. In anetworked deployment, the machine may operate in the capacity of aserver or a client user machine in a server-client user networkenvironment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed)network environment. The machine may comprise a server computer, aclient user computer, a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a laptopcomputer, a desktop computer, a control system, a network router, switchor bridge, or any machine capable of executing a set of instructions(sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken by thatmachine. Further, while a single machine is illustrated, the term“machine” shall also be taken to include any collection of machines thatindividually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructionsto perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein.

The computer system 300 may include a processor 302 (e.g., a centralprocessing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU, or both), a mainmemory 304 and a static memory 306, which communicate with each othervia a bus 308. The computer system 300 may further include a videodisplay unit 310, which may be, but is not limited to, a liquid crystaldisplay (LCD), a flat panel, a solid state display, or a cathode raytube (CRT). The computer system 300 may include an input device 312,such as, but not limited to, a keyboard, a cursor control device 314,such as, but not limited to, a mouse, a disk drive unit 316, a signalgeneration device 318, such as, but not limited to, a speaker or remotecontrol, and a network interface device 320.

The disk drive unit 316 may include a machine-readable medium 322 onwhich is stored one or more sets of instructions 324, such as, but notlimited to, software embodying any one or more of the methodologies orfunctions described herein, including those methods illustrated above.The instructions 324 may also reside, completely or at least partially,within the main memory 304, the static memory 306, or within theprocessor 302, or a combination thereof, during execution thereof by thecomputer system 300. The main memory 304 and the processor 302 also mayconstitute machine-readable media.

Dedicated hardware implementations including, but not limited to,application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays andother hardware devices can likewise be constructed to implement themethods described herein. Applications that may include the apparatusand systems of various embodiments broadly include a variety ofelectronic and computer systems. Some embodiments implement functions intwo or more specific interconnected hardware modules or devices withrelated control and data signals communicated between and through themodules, or as portions of an application-specific integrated circuit.Thus, the example system is applicable to software, firmware, andhardware implementations.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, themethods described herein are intended for operation as software programsrunning on a computer processor. Furthermore, software implementationscan include, but not limited to, distributed processing orcomponent/object distributed processing, parallel processing, or virtualmachine processing can also be constructed to implement the methodsdescribed herein.

The present disclosure contemplates a machine-readable medium 322containing instructions 324 so that a device connected to thecommunications network 130, the communications network 135, anothernetwork, or a combination thereof, can send or receive voice, video ordata, and to communicate over the communications network 130, thecommunications network 135, another network, or a combination thereof,using the instructions. The instructions 324 may further be transmittedor received over the communications network 130, the communicationsnetwork 135, another network, or a combination thereof, via the networkinterface device 320.

While the machine-readable medium 322 is shown in an example embodimentto be a single medium, the term “machine-readable medium” should betaken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralizedor distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) thatstore the one or more sets of instructions. The term “machine-readablemedium” shall also be taken to include any medium that is capable ofstoring, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution by themachine and that causes the machine to perform any one or more of themethodologies of the present disclosure.

The terms “machine-readable medium,” “machine-readable device,” or“computer-readable device” shall accordingly be taken to include, butnot be limited to: memory devices, solid-state memories such as a memorycard or other package that houses one or more read-only (non-volatile)memories, random access memories, or other re-writable (volatile)memories; magneto-optical or optical medium such as a disk or tape; orother self-contained information archive or set of archives isconsidered a distribution medium equivalent to a tangible storagemedium. The “machine-readable medium,” “machine-readable device,” or“computer-readable device” may be non-transitory, and, in certainembodiments, may not include a wave or signal per se. Accordingly, thedisclosure is considered to include any one or more of amachine-readable medium or a distribution medium, as listed herein andincluding art-recognized equivalents and successor media, in which thesoftware implementations herein are stored.

The illustrations of arrangements described herein are intended toprovide a general understanding of the structure of various embodiments,and they are not intended to serve as a complete description of all theelements and features of apparatus and systems that might make use ofthe structures described herein. Other arrangements may be utilized andderived therefrom, such that structural and logical substitutions andchanges may be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure.Figures are also merely representational and may not be drawn to scale.Certain proportions thereof may be exaggerated, while others may beminimized. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to beregarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

Thus, although specific arrangements have been illustrated and describedherein, it should be appreciated that any arrangement calculated toachieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific arrangementshown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations orvariations of various embodiments and arrangements of the invention.Combinations of the above arrangements, and other arrangements notspecifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in theart upon reviewing the above description. Therefore, it is intended thatthe disclosure not be limited to the particular arrangement(s) disclosedas the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but thatthe invention will include all embodiments and arrangements fallingwithin the scope of the appended claims.

The foregoing is provided for purposes of illustrating, explaining, anddescribing embodiments of this invention. Modifications and adaptationsto these embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art andmay be made without departing from the scope or spirit of thisinvention. Upon reviewing the aforementioned embodiments, it would beevident to an artisan with ordinary skill in the art that saidembodiments can be modified, reduced, or enhanced without departing fromthe scope and spirit of the claims described below.

We claim:
 1. A communication device, comprising: a memory that storesinstructions; and a processor that executes the instructions to performoperations, the operations comprising: identifying a cell siteidentifier associated with a cell site connected to the communicationdevice; determining, based on the cell site identifier and the cellsite, a source for providing a barometric pressure measurementcorresponding to a location of the communication device; determiningthat the source is an optimal source for providing the barometricpressure measurement based on a proximity of the source to thecommunication device, based on a processing power of the source, andbased on a signal strength associated with the source; receiving, via afirst over-the-air signal provided by the source, the barometricpressure measurement corresponding to the location of the communicationdevice; transmitting, to a barometric sensor of the communicationdevice, the barometric pressure measurement corresponding to thelocation of the communication device; and calibrating the barometricsensor based on the barometric pressure measurement corresponding to thelocation of the communication device.
 2. The communication device ofclaim 1, wherein the operations further comprise transmitting a requestfor the barometric pressure measurement corresponding to the location ofthe communication device.
 3. The communication device of claim 2,wherein the operations further comprise receiving, in response to therequest, the barometric pressure measurement corresponding to thelocation of the communication device, and wherein the operations furthercomprise calibrating the barometric sensor based on a selected timeinterval.
 4. The communication device of claim 3, wherein the operationsfurther comprise adjusting, based on a user preference, the selectedtime interval for calibrating the barometric sensor.
 5. Thecommunication device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprisedetermining a location of a user of the communication device aftercalibrating the barometric sensor based on the barometric pressuremeasurement corresponding to the location of the communication device.6. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the operations furthercomprise determining an altitude of the communication device aftercalibrating the barometric sensor.
 7. The communication device of claim1, wherein the operations further comprise receiving the firstover-the-air signal provided by the source, wherein the source comprisesa barometric pressure beacon.
 8. The communication device of claim 1,wherein the operations further comprise receiving the first over-the-airsignal provided by the source, wherein the source comprises a weathertransmitter.
 9. The communication device of claim 1, wherein theoperations further comprise calibrating the barometric sensor when anapplication associated with the communication device is started.
 10. Thecommunication device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprisereceiving a second over-the-air signal from the source for calibrating acomponent of the communication device other than the barometric sensor,wherein the second over-the-air signal is different from the firstover-the-air signal.
 11. The communication device of claim 10, whereinthe operations further comprise calibrating the component of thecommunication device based on the second over-the-air signal forcalibrating the component.
 12. A method executing within a communicationdevice, comprising: identifying, by utilizing instructions from a memorythat are executed by a processor, a cell site identifier associated witha cell site connected to the communication device; determining, based onthe cell site identifier and the cell site, a source for providing abarometric pressure measurement corresponding to a location of thecommunication device; determining that the source is an optimal sourcefor providing the barometric pressure measurement based on a proximityof the source to the communication device, based on a processing powerof the source, and based on a signal strength associated with thesource; receiving, via a first over-the-air signal provided by thesource, the barometric pressure measurement corresponding to thelocation of the communication device; transmitting, to a barometricsensor of the communication device, the barometric pressure measurementcorresponding to the location of the communication device; andcalibrating the barometric sensor based on the barometric pressuremeasurement corresponding to the location of the communication device.13. The method of claim 12, further comprising transmitting a requestfor the barometric pressure measurement corresponding to the location ofthe communication device.
 14. The method of claim 13, further comprisingreceiving, in response to the request, the barometric pressuremeasurement corresponding to the location of the communication device,and further comprising calibrating the barometric sensor based on aselected time interval.
 15. The method of claim 12, further comprisingdetermining altitude information for the communication device aftercalibrating the barometric sensor.
 16. The method of claim 15, furthercomprising mapping the altitude information to a location where thecommunication device is located within a building floor layout.
 17. Themethod of claim 15, further comprising tracking an object in proximityto the communication device based on the altitude information.
 18. Themethod of claim 12, further comprising recalibrating the barometricsensor when the location of the communication device changes.
 19. Themethod of claim 12, further comprising receiving a second over-the-airsignal from the source for calibrating a component of the communicationdevice other than the barometric sensor, and further comprisingcalibrating the component of the communication device based on thesecond over-the-air signal for calibrating the component, wherein thesecond over-the-air signal is different from the first over-the-airsignal.
 20. A non-transitory computer-readable device of a communicationdevice comprising instructions, which when executed by a processor ofthe communication device, cause the processor to perform operationscomprising: identifying a cell site identifier associated with a cellsite connected to the communication device; determining, based on thecell site identifier and the cell site, a source for providing abarometric pressure measurement corresponding to a location of thecommunication device; determining that the source is an optimal sourcefor providing the barometric pressure measurement based on a proximityof the source to the communication device, based on a processing powerof the source, and based on a signal strength associated with thesource; receiving, via an over-the-air signal provided by the source,the barometric pressure measurement corresponding to the location of thecommunication device; transmitting, to a barometric sensor of thecommunication device, the barometric pressure measurement correspondingto the location of the communication device; and calibrating thebarometric sensor based on the barometric pressure measurementcorresponding to the location of the communication device.